Thismaycomeasasurprisetothe“MeGeneration,”buthappinessdoesntcomefromlivinginabighouse,buyingthelatesttechno-gadget,andgettingstampsfromexoticlocalesinyourpassport.

Infact,a2005pollbyTimeMagazinefoundthathelpingotherswasamajorsourceofhappinessfor75percentofAmericans.“Volunteeringisanopportunitytobesociallyengagedandcontributetothelivesofothers,”saysStephenPost,aprofessoratCaseWesternReserveUniversitywhoco-authoredthebookWhyGoodThingsHappentoGoodPeoplewithJillNeimark.“Itsnotmaterialgoodsthatmakeushappy—itshavingpurposeandmeaninginourlives.”

Infact,somerecentresearchsuggeststhatwereactuallyhard-wiredforhelping.Eventhinkingabouthelpingothersisenoughtostimulatethepartofourbrainassociatedwithfeel-goodchemicalslikeoxytocin.Helpingothersdoesntjustmakeushappier,theresalsoevidenceitmakesushealthiertoo.“RecentresearchoutofEnglandshowsthatcitieswithhigherratesofvolunteerismhadthelowerratesofdepressionandheartdisease,”saysPost.

Donthavealotoffreetime?Noworries.Peoplewhovolunteerjusttwohoursperweek(100hoursperyear)enjoylowerratesofdepressionandbetterphysicalhealth.